A few years ago, an acquaintance of mine who had arrived in the American Midwest for the first time decided to freshen up by taking a shower in my bathroom. Minutes later, after he came out, I noticed that he was shivering like a skinny, wet cat. Puzzled, I asked him what was wrong. He … Continue reading Wrathroom: the perils of the modern bathroom
The psychology and the physics of stampedes
Why bother to think about stampedes? As we know, even poorly-organized humans in groups have tremendous capacity for destruction of property and life. The raw power of collectivism has the innate potential to take a chaotic turn in the fury of the mob and the panic of the stampede. And by appreciating the fact that … Continue reading The psychology and the physics of stampedes
Psyclone
After spending close to a week on St Thomas in the Caribbean, I came very close to the possibility of being stranded there for an indefinite period. At the small airport in Charlotte Amalie, a few hours before scheduled takeoff, tourists were camping out for the long-haul as airline staff announced over the public address … Continue reading Psyclone
Walking for a thousand years…
I hopped out of the E Line train I had boarded in midtown Manhattan. Stepping out of the Jackson Heights Subway Station in Queens I was transfixed. It was as if I made the trip across thousands to miles to Sealdah Station in Kolkata. I was in the community of Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis in … Continue reading Walking for a thousand years…
A non-review of NBC’s new sitcom “Outsourced”
The American television network channel NBC just started airing a television sitcom called Outsourced about a couple of Americans who move to India to run a call-center full of Indians selling novelty items to clients back home in America. I’ve watched the pilot episode and a few others since then. As you know, I'm a desi. … Continue reading A non-review of NBC’s new sitcom “Outsourced”
The economics of murder: how much does it cost?
In the US, a murder costs a little over 17 million dollars. A group of researchers crunched data for over 650 murders in eight states and used a formula with parameters for lost murderer productivity costs, judicial expenses, and victim losses to come up with that number as an “average per murder”. And because each … Continue reading The economics of murder: how much does it cost?
A desi rasta tour
Dronningens Gade, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands Leisurely stroll through Dronningens Gade, or Main Street in Charlotte Amalie on a day when there are no Caribbean cruise ships docked in the harbor. You’ll see a lot of shuttered shops. You might think you’re in a quaint town in the quiet Virgin Islands... … Continue reading A desi rasta tour
Paper still beats the Kindle in my book.
I stopped when I saw the title of the book – Lord Vishnu’s Love Handles. On the cover was the picture of a cow with long eyelashes and silver udders. But what finally sold me on it was the turban the cow was wearing. I quickly paid the two dollars penciled on the first page … Continue reading Paper still beats the Kindle in my book.
The Hariome Project
Biologists can be pretty annoying when they’re trying hard to come up with cutesy names. I mean did you guys really have to name a gene required for mammalian development sonic hedgehog after the Sega icon? I mean what comes next? A gene influencing cranial tensile strength named after a pudgy Nintendo chap? But you … Continue reading The Hariome Project
Quick lessons on what not to do in life
Just as asking a government employee to do something before or after lunch, morning tea, or afternoon tea can get you in trouble, there are other things you should never do either: 1. Never protest when others think you are drunk, insane, stupid, or angry. You will only confirm suspicions. 2. Never admit that your … Continue reading Quick lessons on what not to do in life
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